There are lots of niche shooting gadgets out there. Admittedly some of them are just meant to make a sale and don’t really offer a lot of utility. On the other hand, some of them are worth their weight in gold.
One of them - at least when used appropriately - is definitely one of the latter entries. It’s called a laser boresighter, and in the event you’ve never heard of one, here’s what it is and how to use it.
Introducing the Laser Boresighter
Suppose you just spent $10,000 on a brand new long-range rifle. That’s not too far off the mark for the price of some of these platforms.
Now let’s look at ammo. For some cartridges, like .338 Lapua and .50 BMG, they can be several dollars a pop.
That’s expensive enough if you’re just shooting in earnest, but for the sight-in, forget it. You’re going to have to burn 50 to 200 rounds just to break in the rifle.
Even if you are shooting a run of the mill cartridge, if you’re investing in match grade ammo like Federal’s Gold Medal Match, it’s going to be expensive one way or the other. The less you can use for sight-in, the better.
For sighting in, there’s a better, faster way to get on paper, and you can use it whenever you adjust your scope or mount a new one to the top of the receiver.
As stated, it’s a laser boresighter, which is basically a device that projects a laser spot from the bore onto the target, showing you where the bore is pointed and aligned, and in theory telling you where your shots should land.
There are two main types of laser boresighters; those that mount in the muzzle of the gun, and those that are basically snap cap-sized versions that go into the chamber.
Either way, they work basically the same.
How to Use a Laser Boresighter
If you have a boresighter that’s designed to be chambered, switch it on and chamber it as though it were a snap cap.
If you have one of those that mounts into the muzzle, make sure you attach the appropriate insert at the base of it so it creates a straight line when inserted. Then place it in the muzzle and switch it on.
Shoulder your rifle and look through the optic at a target downrange. You should see the spot of the laser somewhere on the target. If you can’t, adjust the rifle until you can see the laser.
Once you can see the laser through the optic, adjust your reticle so that it roughly corresponds to where the laser falls on the target.
This is the first step in rough sight-in, and should get you on paper, or close to it. Following this protocol aligns your reticle preliminarily with the centerline axis of the bore. Also, for what it’s worth, this method can also be used with iron sights or a red dot sight, if you ever want to do so.
While this step can save you money and get you on paper faster, you’ll still need to complete sight-in adjustments with live fire.
Live Fire Adjustments
In order to completely sight-in your rifle, make sure you’re not using some cheap ammo. Use the ammo you intend to use in competition.
For instance, something like Federal’s Gold Medal Match grade ammo is a good choice.
Sight in at an appropriate range, so if you’re shooting at very long-distances, you might want to zero your rifle at 200 yards or even farther.
Either way, take aim at that distance, fire three shots on the target, and see where they land.
If you have a tight group, you’re off to a good start. All you need to do is align your reticle with the point of impact, fire a few more groups of three, and repeat the process until you’re pretty close to zeroed-in at that range.
You can take it from there. Using a laser boresighter is not a panacea for sighting in, but it can still save you some money because you can save the expensive cartridges for the last stages of sight-in.
Here for Federal Gold Medal Match?
In the event you’re here for high-quality match-grade ammo for long-distance shooting and competition, like Federal Gold Medal Match, which is available in several different calibers, take a look at what we offer here at Bucking Horse Outpost.
We carry a wide range of rifle ammo in our collection, some of it match grade and ideal for extreme long-range shooting. With optimal radial symmetry, match-grade rifle ammo is intended to deliver extreme accuracy at commensurately extreme ranges.
Stock up the ammo cans here, remember this helpful tip about getting on target with a laser boresighter, and be ready when you’re at the range.